Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-06-03
NIAIE.

Nobody would take little Nike
Markham for heroine, nor would
one suppose that little figure possess
ed nerve enough to save hundreds OF
lives by ber prompt action; but this
was the way Of it:
1t was hot summer afternoon, and
the most absolute quiet reigned over
the little railroad station at Parker
town, up in Northern New England,
on those sweltering July days. Not
even the customary loafers were
around, and only at train time was
there any show of life.
The down train was due at 5:l0,
but until then, as sensational writer's
say, "all was quiet as the grave"
Mike was the station agents
daughter and only child. She was
fifteen, although SO small she looked
three years younger, and was usually
quiet as a mouse-"not much zip to
her," as the country people said. In
spite of the current opinion, however
she had, except the small portion OF
the time the little country town set
apart for the school season, spent
nearly all her time in the ticket Office
with her father, picking up, letter for
letter and word for word, the sounds
of the Morse instrument, and finally,
one day, she astonished her father by
taking a telegram by sound, giving
him neat copy"
From that day Mike was installed
as telegraph operator, and the indul.
gent father often said mick could
run that Office just as well as he could
himself' hich, considering that
Mr.. Markham was considered by the
boys "a plug operator" might be call
ed double compliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon we
are talking about, the aforesaid
"plug" sauntered into the depot with
trouble enthroned on his majestic
brow.
"Nick, I'm summoned on jury
case up to the Centre Village this af-
ternoon. It's too late to get anybody
here, even s'posing there was any
body to get. What are you going to
do about it? S'pose you can tend the
concern alone until | get back
probably by g."
Il guess so, father" replied Mike.
"There won't be much of anything to
do. Likely there won't be ary pas
sengers for the down train this hot
day, and / hope | know enough to
sell ticket or two if there are"
"WelI, see that those boxes 90 by
express. The waybills are ready
and in the drawer Guess you'll get
along all right" and off he went leav-
ing Mike mistress Of the situation,
which phrase meant more than you
might imagine that very particular
day.
At first she felt her newly acquired
importance somewhat and stepped
about briskly, busting the musty lit
tie Office and watering the few plants
in the windows, but there being alb
solutely nothing to do and no one
coming near, she dropped into mac
tivity and listened to the click of the
telegraph instrument, which to her
was companionable as the talk of
near friends would be. AS the after
noon passed drowsily along, the heat
and stiffness overcame her, and drop
ping her faxen head head on the
desk before her, che was soon-as one
Of the good ladies Of Parkertown was
wont to express it-"in the arms OF
Morphine
Afterward the first thing she could
remember about it voice seeming
to come from her dreams said
"Tain't likely she is left here alone
and asleep too"
NO" responded another evil voice,
"the old mans prob'ly round some
where-but." in lower tone, "come
on, let's go long. The down train'll
be along soon and we'll just lay 'em
out"
Mike was wide awake enough
now, but she had presence of mind
enough in her small body, and realiz-
cd that safety lay in keeping still,
"How fur is it up thereW
ash! Keep mum. Do you want to
knock the hull thing in the fire, and
yourself, too?" And then the girls
quickened hearing caught the sound
Of heavy footsteps passing by the
window and on up the track
Mike waited until che couldn't
hear the footsteps, and then cautious.
ly turned and looked out of the win
dow There they were-two miser-
able-looking tramps, fastening up the
track. She recognized them at once
as two men who had been discharged
from construction train that had
been at work down the road.
What would che do? Oh, if she
could send for her father But there
was no one near, and beside by the
time he could get home it might be